Another 996 on GRM

Yeah, 13.5-13.9 in the 1/4, highly launch dependent. If you don't launch it right it feels slow until you hit about 4500-5000.

It's interesting how not-fast the car feels a lot of the time. The first 3 gears are fairly long and if you don't take advantage of its launching potential it really doesn't roll away from a stop very hard at all. It doesn't really feel fast until you get to the top of 3rd and beyond (4th, 5th and 6th are more closely spaced). I've only briefly hit 125 in it, so there's supposedly 40-50mph left to explore that i may never get around to.

Strangely enough it feels strong in 4-5-6 at part throttle cruising, but doesn't feel very powerful when actually pushing it in lower gears below ~4500rpm. I suspect drive-by-wire tuning and the closer gear spacing in the higher gears just gives you the impression of better progress. The way it performs in those conditions is very pleasing.

The 1-2 shift is balky. Im considering a 997 shifter base and/or modifying the actual shift lever to tilt the handle slightly more away from me. I feel like i have to pull the shifter back too close to my torso to really land 2nd. The seat is set where i am comfortable with the pedals and i have pretty conventional proportions (6'0 32" inseam) so i'm temped to modify the car instead of my driving position.

I demand a Dynasty/996 photoshoot.

Well bought!

I did the 997 shifter conversion in my Boxster, mainly to address the vague feeling in the 1-2 throw. I recommend it highly.

I think I remember reading that the '99s still had a cable throttle. 2000+ went to a drive by wire throttle. Maybe check for play in the cable or cam in the early part of its travel?

Guys, if you can, get the 996/2. They are really worth the price difference. A lot of subtle changes and better overall performance plus a little better looking. Mine is heading toward 115k and has been one of the most reliable cars I've owned. I'm a cheapskate but will admit that I do my oil at 5k with mahle filter and 5w 40 redline.

DanyloS wrote: I think I remember reading that the '99s still had a cable throttle. 2000+ went to a drive by wire throttle. Maybe check for play in the cable or cam in the early part of its travel?

Yep. My 99 has the cable throttle. I know this because I just ripped the carpet out due to a sunroof drain leak. I was confused why there was a cable going up (cruise control), and one running under the carpet. I think it is only the 99s that have this.

Shows how closely i've looked at it.

The 996.2s do seem noticeably improved but they were all more than i wanted to spend and surprisingly i don't prefer the newer headlight treatment.

The hardest part about finding something i wanted in a price range i was actually comfortable with was finding something that: Wasn't silver, wasn't black, no black interior, no grey interior, no tiptronic, no cabriolet, no salvage title, no immediate issues that would prevent me from driving it. That knocks out almost all the cheap ones. But like Mazdeuce said, I have the patience to find the 'right' deals (hope im not proven wrong on this one!). When i got the car, some of the people i told about it reminded me that i had mentioned looking into getting one over a year ago.

BringATrailer just auctioned a 99 C4 with 90-something K on it for $23000. It was nicer than mine but that's pretty close to 100% more expensive too. And it was silver with a grey interior.

I did the 997 shifter conversion in my Boxster, mainly to address the vague feeling in the 1-2 throw. I recommend it highly.

I am very glad to hear this!!

For comedy, here is an example of the company the 911 got to keep upon arriving at its new home.

Also, here is what the car 'needs' as far as repairs: Swaybar endlinks (clunk/rattle), window regulators (don't auto up/down properly with door opening), alternator (wont maintain 12.6+v under high load), valve cover gaskets (seeping, not dripping), and a right headlight (because the left was replaced and it doesn't look right like this).

Devilsolsi wrote:

DanyloS wrote: I think I remember reading that the '99s still had a cable throttle. 2000+ went to a drive by wire throttle. Maybe check for play in the cable or cam in the early part of its travel?

Yep. My 99 has the cable throttle. I know this because I just ripped the carpet out due to a sunroof drain leak. I was confused why there was a cable going up (cruise control), and one running under the carpet. I think it is only the 99s that have this.

The '99 C4s have e-gas, C2 are cable. Though I haven't gotten around to buying it yet, I have confirmed that the 2000+ 996 SprintBooster will work on a '99. My only beef with my C4 is the non-linear e-gas.

If you don't like the stock shifter, I have a short shifter that is angled that I'd part with.

K car limo needs to be in that pic!

If you don't like the stock shifter, I have a short shifter that is angled that I'd part with.

What type is it? Brand/model?

A B&M copy, I believe. Here is a link that shows the angle, which can be either toward or away from the driver.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic/4876-bm-short-shift-kit-install/

In reply to Apis Mellifera:

How much$?

140 down.. 30 to go? Mph..

So the story about buying this thing: It was in Houston (im in San Antonio, 200+ miles away) and the only time i could manage the 8 hr drive time (round trip) to go look at it was a Sunday. Met at the dealership PO worked at as a salesperson, but he is new and has customers and his manager is on his ass for needing to step out for a few minutes to show me the car. Didn't want to let me drive it without him so i only took it around the block. No major issues but no real exploration of what it was like to drive a 996 (it was and still is the only one i've driven). I left a cash deposit and told him i would get the loan for the reminder finalized the next day. Monday i finalize the loan and am told the check would hit the mail Tuesday and arrive by Wednesday. On Tuesday he calls me and says that the clutch linkage broke, and just waited on the phone for me to respond like he was looking for a way out. I just told him to let me know when it was fixed. The check has already hit the mail. Wednesday my check arrives and pays off his loan and i'm now the new owner of an undrivable car with new damage that i havent been able to inspect. He puts it in a shop and i get the name of the shop and call them up. THEY tell me that he hit something in the road and that while there's no damage to the body, it broke the clutch line and damaged some brake hard lines. For some strange reason the owner decided to file an insurance claim on it, but in order to push it over his deductible they needed to use new parts.. coming from Germany. So the car is in the shop for a MONTH with damage i havent been able to inspect. When it's finally almost ready, the PO owes the shop his deductible, and tells me he doesnt have it. Now i tell you honestly, i was VERY patient and unstressed about this whole thing, but that there made my eye twitch a little. Luckily by the time the car was released he had come up with the money. I picked the car up from the house of the service writer who handled the job, not even from the PO, as again i had to pick it up on a weekend and the shop wasn't open. I pick up the keys out of the guy's mailbox as he wasn't even there, and drove it home.

So it was a very odd and somewhat stressful purchase. I was out 12k for a month on a car that i didn't have possession of and didn't truly know the condition of any longer. But I'm happy now. I inspected the repairs (and everything else) on a lift and have no lingering concerns. It's the same 17y/o used car i originally decided to purchase and nothing has really changed about that. It's not easy to get a 12k 911 that's worth a crap in the current market, and while I didn't know all this would happen when i committed to buy, I have no regrets about sticking it out.

Wow. Bizarre.

Right car, wrong PO, and sounds like you capitalized on it. They are screwed together out of the same raw materials as every other car on the planet. There's a lot that's DIY-able, if you're handy.

You really aren't helping my practical side that says "Self, a 16-yr old Porsche is a stupid DD. Buy something smart, like a Focus ST. It's probably got heated seats and the engine won't grenade itself."

My 996 has heated seats and hasn't grenaded.

No sign of it either. No particles in the filter and nothing unusual in the oil or on the magnetic drain plug.

Is the stock drain plug magnetic? If not i need to buy one. I'm planning to get an oil analysis done at the first change.

I was just complaining a few hours ago about how i haven't had any races in this thing. I just happened upon a good one. A modded 350z that had been following me for a while and a g37 coupe, bone stock with paper plates. 3 across, from 80 (3rd gear for me). The g37 was a little faster but i had them both beat once i got a ways into 4th. One of the nice things about living in the 7th largest city in the US is there are a lot of truly huge and mostly empty sections of highway if you happen to still be out late at night for some reason.

Good purchase, and I've never seen that color either. I've only seen one green one. Most tend to be black, white, silver or red.

Stock drain plug isn't magnetic. Stock plug is a 944 part.

mazdeuce wrote: I'm very much looking forward to seeing this car in person. You do have the patience to find the good deals.

QFT!

When I was searching for one to use as an engine-donor for my Boxster project, crummy salvage cars were nudging $10,000. $12.3k for a clean title 996 in good shape is a steal!

Thanks guys, I'm really happy with it.

I forgot to mention i also ran across a W129 SL500 with AMG wheels and we got on it from a slow 2nd gear roll. In typical Mercedes automatic fashion i think he got stuck in 2nd at a very low rpm and even the v8 torque couldnt save him. It was a nice looking car, though!

markwemple wrote: My 996 has heated seats and hasn't grenaded.

Wait, they do? Aw man, I'm doomed now.